★★★★★
Hi, y'all!! I have an 11 year old Purebred Chocolate Lab... And she started getting a bad ear infection about 6months ago, and I have tried everything to get rid of it! I couldn't figure out if it was an ear infection (bacterial) or ear mites, and it was ruining her normally bubbly personality, not to mention making the ear canal raw red and bleed!! :( So, I tried everything I could think of, for both Ear Infections and Ear Mites, including some of the following (you can use these if you want! )... 50% Apple Cider Vinegar/50% Water, 50% Rubbing Alcohol/50% Water, Canola Oil with 2 cloves of Garlic left overnight and then removed the next day and using the oil (4-5 drops using a child's medicine dropper) to smother the mites 2 times daily, Rx Drops from the Vet (Tresaderm, I had to get the script filled 2 times because the first time didn't work, either did the second round for that matter.. That's how I knew it was Mites and not an infection. ) And I also used Amoxicillan 500mg (human Rx Pills) 2x daily, and THAT didn't work!
So, I was rummaging through my old medicine drawer, and I found old ear infection drops for me that were well expired, but it was a full bottle. So I figured, what the heck? The drops were called Cipro HC, OTC. The ingredients are Ciprofolaxin (.2% HCL)and Hydrocortisone (1% Otic Suspension. ) I swear to you, this poor dog was walking sideways because her equilibrium was compromised from these mites, and the first night I cleaned her ear with a cleaner and then used 2 drops of this stuff, no joke, the next morning, the ear looked almost back to normal!!! I only had to use 3 Q-Tips to get gunk out, which is brilliant compared to the 10-11 I used to have to use (and that's using both ends of each one! ) I used the drops again that morning, 2 drops, and again that night, and by the next morning, I didn't even need to use any Q-Tips!!!!
The first time I inserted the drops, she got a little uncomfortable, but the Hydrocortisone may have stung a little because she had open sores inside the ear canal. But it's been about 3 weeks since I stopped using the drops, and she is back to her old self!!!!
Before you use these drops, First, determine the amount of drops needed for your type of dog. My dog is about 60 lbs, and I used 2 drops, I could have used 3 but I didn't want to push it... but if you have a smaller dog, try one small drop first and see how the dog does, then adjust accordingly.
Use an ear cleaner from a Pet Shop or just use some warm water and Q-Tips. ** MAKE SURE you don't push the Q-Tip too far into the ear canal, as you could puncture the Ear Drum. Clean any debris out of the ear, and use a tissue outside of the ear to pat it dry. Then, insert the drops, and massage the dogs ear canal from the outside for about a minute. (It is basically the area right below the opening of the ear. ) Close the flap of the dogs ear so the ear canal is no longer exposed before massaging it.
Once you've massaged the drops in, try not to let your dog shake their head too much. If they do, it's not the end of the world, that's why you massaged the drops in, to assure that they made it deep into the source of the problem. Once you have massaged the drops in, "open" the ear back up, exposing the ear canal, and see if there is any fluids or pus around the flap of the ear or in the crevices inside the ear. If there are, just use either a Q-Tip or a tissue, and lightly remove that gunk. That could lead to a bacterial infection if left there.
Do this 2x a day, and use a flashlight to ensure you can see everything going on in the ear. Do not overdo the drops, as it could dry the ear out too much. Dogs need a certain amount of moisture in their ears to prevent further infections.
I hope this helps!!
Feel free to email me if you have any questions.
AveryMeyer89(at)gmail.com
****I am NOT a Veterinarian, and the article above is simply MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. The information provided is not factually proven to be used on dogs, I just tried it with my dog and it worked. PLEASE use this information at YOUR OWN DISCRETION. I hold NO responsibility if anything should happen to your pet as a result of following the regamine I describe below. I can ensure you, however, that the information I have provided above is true to MY experience, and I hope this helps you!
